Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Final Chapter

Ch. 1 - Privet Drive

Jenny's POV

Returning to Privet Drive - something I didn't want to do, and yet had to do. Harry had assured me he wouldn't let the Muggles get to me.

I stood in Harry's bedroom, lifting things and grazing my fingertips over the objects that his room possessed - he had returned there every year, and I seemed to take everything about him for granted. Hedwig tucked her head into her wing, sulking like a youngster. Harry was downstairs with the Dursely's, explaining how they had to leave or Voldemort would come for them. Dudley had been interested in staring at me, and that had not settled well with Harry, so he'd told me to wait upstairs, where I was 'safe' from prying eyes.

I had sent a letter over to Shadow much earlier, stating that Lupin and Tonks would be stopping by to bring her to Privet Drive, and she had returned one in due course, noting that James had developed a close friendship with Nova's son Olive and that the Darkened League had returned to the Clan lead by Pierce and Svana.

Harry returned suddenly, and I was pulled from my revere. "We're leaving soon, really soon." He told me, and finished the packing he had started earlier. I poked a few owl nuts through Hedwig's cage, and yet still she did not touch them. The doorbell rang, and we headed downstairs together, knowing that expecting Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle to cope with the Dursely's alone was asking too much.

There was a very long conversation, in which I picked up Harry and I would not be leaving, and instead would be escorted with Mad-Eye and perhaps some others a short while later.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley made their way outside, and yet Dudley did not move, while Hestia was ranting about how none of them knew how much Harry had gone through, sparking a short plight of jealousy through my veins, but I quashed it and turned to see Harry speaking to Dudley. "Er- no, they don't know, Hestia. They think I'm a waste of space-"

"I don't think your a waste of space." My eyes widened. It can't have been the same Dudley that Harry had spoken about: crass, abrasive, rude and ill-humoured.

Harry seemed to accept that it was the last he was to see of his only living relatives, the conversation ended and the Dursley's drove away from Privet Drive. The house beckoned silence, and it came with its awkward atmosphere whilst Harry bustled around, dragging our stuff down the stairs with short growls of, "Little help." and, "Men do everything."

I sighed, drifting through the living room and kitchen with a soft expression. "Jenny, are you al-" There was an extreme roar and snapping cracks, and Harry smacked his head on the short door threshold, and stumbled into the kitchen beside me. Dominating the scene was Hagrid, in his air-goggles, helmet and magical motorbike with the sidecar. Harry raced forwards and slammed open the door, whilst I lagged behind slightly.

Where was Shadow?

Harry, Hermione and Ron hugged and clapped one another on the back, whilst Mad-Eye growled something and shoved past me to enter the house, followed by Tonks, Lupin, Bill, Fleur, Fred, George, Mr Weasley, Hagrid and Mundungus Fletcher. I had not forgotten the stealing that he had done at Grimmauld Place a long while ago. I was still bitter, as seemed Harry, if only slightly. Some of the wizards had arrived on brooms, and others Thestrals, but I knew James and I would travel on Claw-back.

They all took perches and still I stood blatantly obvious and yet invisible, in the middle of the doorway to the living room.

"Harry, guess what?" Tonks called to Harry, wiggling her finger at him - a ring sparkled on it, shimmering brightly. "You got married?!" Harry exclaimed. Lupin murmured something, but Mad-Eye growled something at me, snapping me once more from my drifting thoughts. "Where is Shadow Claw, James Black and Nova?" I drew my gaze to Tonks and Lupin, who waved me and Mad-Eye Moody away casually, "We sent Kingsley instead - we had business at the time." Tonks winked at me.

SNAP.

"Fuck. Forgot how nasty Apparating was."

Shadow, James, Milly and Otto and Nova appeared with Kingsley in the middle of the room, both clutching their heads. Apparating was not meant for Claws. The purple-robed wizard stood at the edge of the room whilst my two friends regained their balance in due time. The room settled into gradual silence, watching them.

Shadow's POV

"Fuck. Forgot how nasty Apparating was."

I clutched at my head tightly, and then my vision returned.

"Watch your language, Claw." Mad-Eye growled at me, the adults in the room making a small rumble in agreement (except Tonks, Fred and George). I made a face at them all and imitated him, swiping a hand through my hair and coming to stand beside Jenny, who hugged me lightly, and I returned it. I folded my arms and gestured to the room, sending a low smirk over at James, Otto and Milly.

They had not been expected, but they had begged to play their part, and James had reluctantly allowed it, of course after I had allowed it myself.

"All right, all right, we'll have time for a cosy catch-up later!" Moody roared, and the room befell into silence once more. Nova and I shifted, sitting with hunched shoulders in the corner of the room, our wings folded inwards to our bodies and our eyes scanning the room as narrowed slits. Mad-Eye explained how they had to ditch Plan A, since a Ministry man called Pius Thicknesse had gone over to Voldemort's side, and that Harry and Jenny still had the Trace on them, which was a spell from the Ministry that detected under-age magic, that would only break once they turned seventeen. Everybody would be flying to a different safe house. By then, it had been obvious to Harry that people would have to take Polyjuice Potion to become him in disguise.

After a bout of resistance, Harry dropped his hair into the Potion, which turned a radiant gold colour. ("Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky, scrawny gits for life." Fred said.)

Mundungus, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Fleur, Milly, Otto, James and Jenny lined up to take a sip of the Potion and become Harry - it was easier to have all Harry, than half-Harry and half-Jenny.

Mad-Eye pointed to me and Nova, "Shadow Claw, you're with Otto and Jenny, Nova, you take Milly and James."

We all exited the house after a short run-through - Nova and I would attempt to stay in the sky longer, and then separate to go different routes to The Burrow, where we were told Shade and Hawthorne were waiting for us with our kittens - and soon Moody was giving orders once more. "Good luck everybody," He shouted, "See you all in about an hour at The Burrow. On the count of three. One... two.. THREE!"

Nova and I launched into the skies, Otto and Jenny on my back, and though they looked like Harry, their scents were still partially the same - the Harry-clothes they were wearing masked it slightly.

However, out of nowhere, out of nothing - out of the space and time in the sky - we were surrounded by no less than thirty hooded figures on brooms. I roared out and dived, two Death Eaters giving chase to me whilst another three went after Nova. I made a sharp turn, my wings slicing the air, and headed straight for the Death Eaters, who lost their nerve and climbed, but Jenny got one with a Stunning hex and my claws caught its shoulder as he plummeted.

I let out another furious, bellowing roar and spotted Nova in the clouds above. I climbed; higher, higher, higher, and higher still, until Otto was whimpering for breath, and then dived once more.

However, as I shot towards a larger, more black-tinged Death Eater, it turned its head up to reveal slit-nostrils and sickening crimson eyes.

"Hisssta."